Water leaking under center pulley into bilge

TheBlueYonder

New Member
Apr 1, 2018
7
Boat Info
1997 230 Overnighter
Engines
5.7GL Volvo Penta I/O
I just bought a 1997 230 Overnighter with a 5.7GL Volvo Penta 350. Had the boat inspected, and it ran great during the inspection, then I had issues getting it started when it got home. Changed out the plugs, cleaned up the engine and now it runs great on the muffs BUT now I am noticing a leak somewhere under the center pulley into the bilge and I have no idea what to do to fix it. can anyone help?
 
Center pulley? Do you mean the water pump pulley or the crankshaft pulley?

Sounds like the water pump could be leaking. Look for a weep hole on the pump body, it may be slightly behind the water pump pulley. An inspection mirror may be needed to see it. If the water is coming from here, that is an indication that water pump is leaking and needs to be replaced.
 
By center pulley I'm guessing you mean the one attached the water pump. If so, then your water pump is going bad. There is a weep hole underneath. See if that is wet. If it is the pump is going bad. Easy swap.
 
"center pulley" the water circ pump pulley or the center engine crankshaft pulley.
upper one, replace the circ pump. Lower one replace the raw water pump
 
It is, in fact, the water circulation pump that is leaking, based on the engine diagram in the manual itself. Very first thing I did after getting the boat home was to replace the impeller in the raw water pump and its not leaking at all, just the circulation pump. New to boats, not to small block 350s, so I know the engine, just not the cooling system. Sdarc, when you say "easy swap" do you mean changing out the circ pump is easy? BT Doctur: the circ pump is on the center crankshaft pulley, no?
 
Also I have another question. I tried to answer it myself using the engine manual, but it doesnt tell me what it is. There is a hose hanging off the rear of the engine block in the back of the bilge and into the bilge. 1) what is that hose? and 2) is it supposed to be there or somewhere else?
 
Also I have another question. I tried to answer it myself using the engine manual, but it doesnt tell me what it is. There is a hose hanging off the rear of the engine block in the back of the bilge and into the bilge. 1) what is that hose? and 2) is it supposed to be there or somewhere else?
That is to drain your engine oil. Pull it out the opening for your rear drain plug, drain your oil.
 
If it’s connected to the engine block, it’s not the oil drain hose.
That is connected the oil pan itself.

A picture would be very helpful.
 
pics would be very helpfull. A oil drain hose is connected to the oil pan and the other end is either attached to the hull drain plug(stupid) but thats what the factory did. First chance you get remove the drain plug, cut the SS retaining cable and put the end at the front of the motor. Now to drain the oil you hook your pump directly to that hose.
On a Volvo the raw water pump is bolted to the engine crankshaft harmonic balancer just infront of the pulley.
this is the front of a 4.3 that is the same as the 5.7
Untitledv1.jpg
 
The crankshaft pulley is the lower one in the center. This pulley is connected to the to the crankshaft. It is where the raw water pump is connected. The circulation pump (water pump in car terms) is driven by belt from the crankshaft pulley. This is where I believe you say it is leaking. Very easy to change. Standard small block water pump. Loosen the belts, disconnect the hoses, 4 bolts removes the pump.
 
Thanks for all your help guys. It is in fact the circ pump that is leaking and I will be swapping it out today, you're right sdarc, pretty easy swap. A few bolts and some gaskets and easy peasy. Espos and Bt Doctor, photo attached from the engine manual. The hose in question is the one attached to the lower rear of the engine and in the manual it runs up behind the exhaust manifold but in my boat its loose in the bilge. BillK, that's what came in it. The guy I bought it from said he changed out the engine 20 hours ago, so maybe it wasn't stock but when I did a NADA value on it, the 5.7GL was the stock engine in the guide so I didn't think otherwise.
 

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Any thoughts on the hose that is hanging into my bilge? Like I said, in the attached manual photo above, its the hose that runs from the rear of the engine and towards the right up behind the exhaust manifold. Also, oddly enough, it looks as though the end of the hose broke from wherever it was attached (i.e. it was not cut) and I am not sure what to do with it.
 
Interesting on the Volvo engine - I didn't know. That would not concern me if it was originally available, in fact would probably be preferable to a Mercruiser. The circulating pump is a common failure in raw water cooled engines. I've replaced mine in about every boat I have owned at some point.
 
Hmmm. I was thinking you were outside the US. That could have explained the Volvo thing. I just don't remember any Sea Ray (smaller boats, anyways) having a Volvo. It's sort of a moot point as it is what it is, but it's definitely not the norm nor the standard. These boats were strictly Merc's. I just looked, out of curiosity, and there is no Volvo listed on the NADA website, either, for a '97 230 OV.

As far as the hose goes... I'm stumped. I don't know what a hose would be for that attached to the flywheel housing (it appears that's where it attaches, anyways). The ONLY thing I can think of is that maybe it's some type of grease point extension - but that's just a huge guess. Can you take a picture of the broken end?
 

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